Jamshedpur FC kicked off their 2024-25 season in the IndianOil Durand Cup with a comprehensive 3-0 win against Assam Rifles Football Team at the JRD Tata Sports Complex. This match marked a historic moment for Jamshedpur as the city hosted the prestigious Durand Cup for the first time.

The tournament was kicked off amidst a lot of fanfare with an amazing opening ceremony to liven up the atmosphere at the Furnace. Following the ceremony, the match began with the home side showing high energy and intensity, creating early chances. Ashutosh Mehta, made a comeback to professional football after a span of 2 years in this match. The encounter, which was played in front of the home crowd, witnessed the dominance of the Red Miners in all aspects of the game. Within the first minute, Len had an attempt on goal, followed by another effort just five minutes later. Jamshedpur’s attacking prowess was evident as they pushed forward, seeking an early lead.

The Assam Rifles Football Team, lacking preparation due to last-minute entry as a replacement to the Bangladesh army, tried hard to maintain the defensive line. However, Sanan, Imran, and Aniket made inroads persistently.

At the 18-minute mark, Sanan delivered a precise cross to Len, and Emil nearly converted it into a goal. Two minutes later, Imran’s cross found Sanan, but his shot went wide of the bar. The pressure continued to mount on the Assam Rifles’ defense. Sanan’s shot on target in the 22nd minute was deflected by the Assam Rifles goalkeeper, preventing a breakthrough. Imran took a free kick at the 35-minute mark, and Ashutosh’s attempt narrowly missed the post. Jamshedpur’s persistent attacks kept the visitors on their toes.

As the first half drew to a close, Emil’s cross to Len in the 43rd minute resulted in another near miss. Albino, the Jamshedpur goalkeeper, made a crucial clearance at the edge of the box to deny Assam Rifles any scoring opportunity. The breakthrough finally arrived when Sanan Mohammed found the back of the net in additional time of the first half, scoring from Imran’s corner in the 45+2 minute, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.

The second half saw Jamshedpur continue their dominance. Nikhil Barla was substituted by Aniket Jadhav at halftime, adding fresh legs to the attack. Pratik made essential saves to thwart any advances by Assam Rifles.

In the 49th minute, Aniket’s cross was just missed by Len. Two minutes later, Imran’s cross to Aniket saw the latter hit the bar. Emil was then substituted by Sourav Das, bringing new energy to the midfield. Aniket’s direct shot in the 60th minute was saved by the Assam Rifles goalkeeper, and Sanan’s cross to Len in the next minute resulted in another close miss.

Jamshedpur’s persistence paid off again at the 68-minute mark when Imran’s cross to Sanan led to a second goal, effectively quashing any hopes of a comeback. The home team continued to press, and in the 86th minute, Imran scored following a deflection from an Ashutosh cross, sealing the victory. The third goal resulted from a howler from the Assam team goalkeeper and Imran made the most out of the opportunity provided. Imran also secured the Man of the Match Award. Sreekuttan, the new signing of Jamshedpur FC, debuted for the team, coming on as a substitute in the second half.

Khalid Jamil can take a lot of positives from this game, especially the strikers. Nevertheless, the upcoming matches will be a lot tougher as this Assam Rifles team lacked preparation and hardly troubled the defense of the home team. Teams like Chennaiyin FC and Indian Army Football Team can pose significant challenges to the Red Miners.

Jamshedpur next faces ISL rivals Chennaiyin FC on August 4th at the JRD Tata Sports Complex.